Thursday, December 19, 2013

You’ve heard it a million times… the job market is competitive, and the economy still uncertain. In that environment it’s tough to maintain your poise and hope as a job seeker, right?With that said, you can take targeted, positive and actionable steps to create positive results for yourself. Below, we’ve listed six unhealthy job search habits that will make your job search more difficult. So, avoid these…

Monday, December 16, 2013

Wouldn't it be great if everything just stayed the same for awhile? It is tiring to have to learn how to use a new smartphone or figure out the latest gadget. In a world that changes quickly, you have to learn to keep morphing, adjusting and adapting to stay currentand marketable. The job search is all about adapting and adjusting to yield positive results.1) Your career is in beta mode.2) Master more than you think you need.3) The résumé isn't dead…yet.4) More mixed signals on résumés.5) Try, try and try again.6) Change your outlook.Read the full US News article

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

For job seekers, it may feel like you can use December to take a break in your job search, but you absolutely should not. It’s almost the end of 2013, so it’s time to make these last few weeks count. One month is plenty of time to set some short term goals and see them through. You may even get to bring in the New Year with a new job.Here are eight things you can accomplish in your job search before the end of the year:1. Subscribe to 1-3 industry publications. Look for blogs, magazines, and other publications specific to your industry. For example, PR News and Mashable are popular in the public relations industry. Subscribe to daily or weekly email updates (or something along those lines) from a few of the publications in your industry to keep up with the latest news and trends.2. Learn one new hard skill. With new technology every day, you will never be finished learning new hard skills. Dedicate the last month of this year to learning one new skill. If you’re still a student, your university can probably provide you with the materials you need. If not, there are lots of tutorials online for learning new skills and software. Look for something that will benefit your job search and get started.3. Polish your resume. As the year winds down, take some time to reflect on the things you’ve accomplished this year. New jobs and internships, surpassing goals for projects you worked on, and leading teams are all great experiences to add to your resume. You never know when you’ll meet someone who wants to help you land a job. It’s important to make sure your resume is always up to date.4. Attend one mock interview. If you have the means, it’s a good idea to set up a pretend job interview. These won’t have specific industry-related questions, but they’re great for practicing your answers to the most common job interview questions. Your interviewer will be able to point out your strengths and weaknesses, so you can improve before the real thing.Goals 5-8 and the complete Glassdoor article

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

If you’ve been on the job hunt for any length of time, you know how frustrating it can be if you seem to “hit a wall” with a particular hiring manager. You may even feel like all the jobs you’ve applied to have begun to blur together and you can’t tell one hiring manager from the next.

So imagine what it must be like for the hiring managers themselves. Especially in this economy, when there may sometimes be hundreds of applicants for a single open position, it may be difficult to tell applicants apart. But one thing is certain. There are some mistakes that get the attention of hiring managers, mistakes you can’t afford to make if you hope to find a good job.

Thesaurus Overload

You can create a resume that sounds intelligent without using words bigger than you. Use the thesaurus for keyword inspiration and variations, but leave out the words that sound like you’re trying too hard.

Being Too Negative

Do ask about why the person who used to fill the position left the job, but don’t ask about the most common complaint about the job. That’s completely subjective anyway and makes a negative impression.

When You’re a Pushy Patty

Persistence is only a virtue if it’s not irritating, so hold back on the aggressive follow-ups. Getting in touch with the hiring manager excessively makes you seem desperate.

Not Managing Your Online Profile

How many times do they have to say it? Hiring managers will look up all of your online profiles, and yes, they will look through your pictures. Don’t be a disappointment and waste their time; clean up your online presence.Mistakes 5-10 and the complete article

Monday, December 9, 2013

Planning to hold off on job searching until January? Think employers don’t hire during the holiday months? You’re mistaken if you believe companies quit looking for talent this time of year.

While plenty of people start to back off on job searching in November and December, you can benefit from continuing to put time and effort into your hunt for a great opportunity. Consider these five significant reasons you’ll miss out (big time) if you freeze your job search during the holidays:

1. Employers Are (Still!) Hiring

Just like any other part of the business, hiring still goes on late in the year. Operations, mergers, production, orders, service, buyouts, and projects are always running in most companies.

In fact, some industries may even have more significant needs during the holiday season, as major transactions and deals are often negotiated during what others might consider downtime.

Back in my IT management and recruiting days, we focused more on January projects and planning for resource needs than holiday vacations.

If your expertise includes acquisitions, sales, manufacturing oversight, or technology automation, you could be in particularly high demand as a skilled leader or executive (even more so at this time of year).

2. Budget Requirements Must Be Met

Both end-of-year budgets and new-year headcount forecasting can drive hiring during the holiday season.

For example, a company may have just received approval to hire a new Director of IT in January. When will they most likely start the hiring cycle? December.

The typical hiring cycle for an executive can take weeks, if not months. Employers anticipating the need for new sales leaders, for example, may need to initiate their hiring process by the end of the year to get a new hire onboarded by February.

Therefore, sending your newly polished leadership resume out to companies of interest to you can pay off quickly, especially if they’re in a hiring cycle and you’re the most qualified –and interested – applicant.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Jay WebbOne of the biggest grievances I hear from job seekers after they weren’t called back for a second interview, is the lack of constructive criticism or candid interview feedback. They feel as though the interview went well, often very well, yet they never hear from the person they spoke to or met with again.

Here are 9 reasons why you may not have been called back for the second interview:

You did not answer the questions that were being asked. I think that some job seekers are participating in an entirely different interview than the one that’s actually taking place.

You didn’t look the part or dress for the culture. Research the culture of the company. Are they more conservative and traditional, or progressive and laid back?

Your hands were clammy and you gave an overall vibe of nervousness. No matter how badly you want the position, you must and SHOULD remain cool—–assuming it’s not your first sales position.

Poor hygiene. Pay attention to the details. Are your fingernails groomed properly? Do you have too much neck hair? What about your breath?

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Even if you’re not job searching today, it makes sense to be prepared to job hunt. You may decide it’s time to say goodbye to your current job. Your employer may decide you’re no longer needed. You never know for certain what might transpire at work.

On average, people change jobs 11 times during their career, so it’s going to happen at some point. It’s better to be prepared than to have to job hunt in panic mode. Here are 10 things you can do to help ensure you’re ready to get hired.Have a professional development plan in place. Identify skills, areas of knowledge or proficiency with technology which will give you an edge in the job market. Make sure you can always tell a prospective employer about assets which you are currently developing.Maintain an up-to-date LinkedIn profile which incorporates your latest accomplishments.Make sure your resume is current so there will be no delay if you move into job search mode. Redo your resume if the focus is on responsibilities rather than accomplishments and value added. Employers are now focusing on candidates who can generate the best results. Review resume samples and advice on updating your resume.

Monday, December 2, 2013

“So then….Tell us About Yourself…..” Despite being one of the most frequently asked questions at interview and many interviews actually opening with this very question, many candidates do not pay as much attention to how they answer this question as perhaps they should. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this is simply a nice little opener for the interviewer or that it is asked before the “real” questions begin. How you answer this question can determine from the off what impression the interviewer has of you. To help you out, we have put together some basic top tips on how to answer “Tell us about yourself”…Be PreparedJust as you spend time researching the company and preparing answers for the “difficult “ questions, you should prepare your answer for this too. Don’t simply leave it until you are asked and then randomly waffle. Spend some time before your interview and prepare a biographical type statement all about yourself – your experience and your professional strengths and qualifications. Write it down, go over it and rewrite it until you are sure that it is truly giving an accurate and positive impression of what you are all about.Be Brief

An all too common mistake when answering this question is to talk too much, to waffle or to ramble on without actually saying anything of real value. This is where your preparation will help. You should ensure that you can answer this question in just a couple of lines. Be specific and simply summarise what you have done to date that relates directly to the job in question and finish by mentioning exactly why you have applied for this position. Don’t be tempted to go on and on talking about yourself. The longer you do this, the more the interviewer will lose interest.